Blair's former bodyguard leaves loaded gun in Starbucks

PUBLISHED: 12:19 05 September 2008 | UPDATED: 15:22 07 September 2010

ROANOKE, VA - APRIL 17: Roanoke Firearms store owner John Markell holds a Glock 19 handgun April 17, 2007 in Roanoke, Virginia. Virginia Tech senior Cho Seung-Hui, 23, a native of South Korea, bought a similar Glock 19 handgun from the shop 36 days before going on a shooting rampage that left 33 people dead, including the shooter. Markell said Cho bought the gun legally by showing his Virginia drivers license, a checkbook and his U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service identification. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

2007 Getty Images

Tony Blair's former bodyguard caused a high-security alert on the Edgware Road after leaving her gun in a cafe. The semi-automatic glock 17 was left in the toilets of Starbucks by the female firearms officer last Friday. It was discovered by a customer an

Tony Blair's former bodyguard caused a high-security alert on the Edgware Road after leaving her gun in a cafe.

The semi-automatic glock 17 was left in the toilets of Starbucks by the female firearms officer last Friday.

It was discovered by a customer and police were immediately called in. After checking the serial number, they were able to trace it to the officer, who is in her 30s and who previously worked as nearby resident Blair's close protection guard.

She has now been discharged from her operational duties while an investigation is under way.

A Met Police spokesman confirmed: "A police-issue firearm was left unattended in a central London cafe on August 29 and was found by a member of the public.

"The weapon belongs to a Metropolitan Police authorised firearms officer who was on duty at the time.

"An investigation is being carried out by the force's Directorate of Professional Standards.

I live in the north west of London in the United Kingdom. Like the rest of the country, I have been looking on in bewilderment at the Brexit deal while politicians on both sides of the house vie for political supremacy. Divisions in government make for good news headlines but do nothing for the public’s confidence in its institutions.

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